Cranking device.



T MGGABE. CRANKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1911.

1,087,800, Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

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A TTORNEYS T. MoOABE.

GRANKING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1911.

1 ,O87,800. Patented Feb. 17,1914.

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WITNESSES Mam 9 A TTORIIEYS INVEIITOR THOMAS MOCABE, 0F HOMESTEAD,FENNSYLVANIA.

CRANKING- DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1'7, 1914.

Application filed September 22, 1911. Serial No. 150,737.

To all whom. it may concern:

Be it known that I, THQMAS McCABn, a citizen of the United States, and aresident o-fHomestead, in the county of'Allegheny.

and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and Improved CrankingDevice, of which the following is full, clear, and exact description.

ing devices for use on gas or gasolene engines and the object of myinvention is to provide a structure whereby cranking of such enginesprevious to starting is rendered less dangerous. a I

-A further object of my invention is to provide a device-of the classdescribed which is especially adapted for use on automobiles andgasolene engines, the construction and arrangement being such that thebrakesmust be set and the speed change lever must be in neutral positionbefore the crank-' ing can take place, and in the event of a back firefrom the engine the crank will immediately disengage from the'engineshaft.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the class.described which .consists of few parts, thereby making it of low cost,the use 'of'such a device being intended to prevent in ury to a personwhile cranking an explosive engine.

Reference is to be had to-the accompany ing drawings forming a part ofthis specification, in which similar characters of reference denotecorresponding'parts in all the views, and in which- I Figure 1 is afront view, partly in section,

on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on theline 22 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional. view on the line 33 of Fig..2; Fig. 4 is a partial side View of the ratchet wheel with thedifferent teeth thereon; Fig. 5 is a rear view of this ratchet wheel;Fig. 6 is a side view, partly in section, showing the means wherebyturning of the ratchet wheel ismad'e :to depend on the position of thespeed *change lever; Fig. '7. is a vertical sectional view 'on the line77 of Fig. 8; Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of a modifiedformfofconstruction; Fig. 9is a partial top plan view of the ratchetwheel used in thismodification.

The cran-king'device is adapted to be attached to the frame 1 whichcarries the engine, the standard 2 being secured to the frame by anysuitable means such as bolts 3.

Extending transversely of the frame 1 and carried by the standard 2 is asuitable bearing 4 through which the crank shaft 5 extends, the outerend being provided with a cranking handle 6.'

Freely mounted on the standard 2 and concentric with the shaft 5 is adisk 7 having a plurality of peripheral-serrations 8, 3 one side of thedisk being provided with a number of equally spaced notches 9, theopposite side of the disk being also provided With notches 10. The disk7 is freely rotatable on its support and is held in position thereon bymeans of a suitable plate 11 which is maintained in position y means ofmachine screws or. bolts 12; the front of the disk 7 is preferablyrecessed as at 13 in order to form a pocket-into which the plate 11 mayfit, thereby providing for a neater and less extended construction. Theengine shaft ltextends closely adjacentrthe inner end of the crank shaft5; and the adjacent ends of each of these shafts are provided withco-acting parts forming a clutch, the crank shaft having arms 15thereon, the arms being provided with teeth 16, the shaft 14 beingprovided with a cir-' cular plate 17 having a series-of notches 18 intowhich the teeth 16 are adapted to engage, whereby the engine shaft maybe turned; the teeth 19 between the notches 18 are tapered so that thefree backward movement of one of the parts relatively to the other ispermitted. On the front of the standard 2 and at opposite points are thepawls 21, 22, pivotally secured thereto by means of bolts 23, 24:, thefree ends of the pawls-being adapted to engage in the serrations8 on theperiphery of the disk 7. Directly above these pawls are lugs orprojections-marked X; these lugs are cast with the standard 2 andprevent the pawls going back so far that they will not engagewith theteethS. I

Secured. to the crank shaft 5 in any suitable manner and turningtherewith when the crank handle 6 is turned are the oppositely extendingarms 25, 26, the outer ends of which are adapted to be brought intoengagement wvith posite notches 9 on the front of the disk by pressinginwardly on the crank handle 6 against the tension of a suitable helicalspring 27 positioned within 7 a pocket 28; this spring keeps the crankshaft normally in front of the disk 7 and the ends of the arms 25, 26,out of engagement with the notches-9 so that,after the 4 engine isstarted, the parts of the clutch at. 10 the adjacent ends of the engineshaft 14- and the crank shaft 5 are out of engagement with each other,whereby the engine may turn independently of. the cranking device; it isto be noted that the teeth on the rear side of the disk 7 are untaperedwhile those on the front'side are preferably tapered, as

shown particularly in Fig.4." 'Hence, the

members 15 and 17 which form a clutch are for the purpose of rotatingthe engine shaft through the medium of the starting crank; when theengine starts the inclined teeth 19 allow the engine shafttorotatefaster than .the shaft of the starting device and themclinedsurfaces on these teeth throw the shaft outwardly. If the engineback-fires the clutch element 15 and the shaft 5 are carried backward bythe clutch element 17 but the ratchet plate or disk 7 is held againstmovementunder such circumstances for the reason that the pawls 21 22engage" withthe peripheral teeth of this disk; the. inclined teeth 9.,on the disk 7 and the ends of the arms 26 on the crank handle are thrownout of engagement, whereby the members 15 andf17 are also disengaged.

' My invention is designed principally to' prevent crankingof the enginewhen the brakes are offand when the speed change lever is inany otherposition than neutral, the construction whereby such a result is'obtained being as follows: Extending rearwardly of. the disk 7' andmounted in any suitable manner is a rod 30 having a. helical I spring 31mounted thereon, the forward end 32 of .this rod being adapted to beseated within any one of the'notches 10 on the rear face of thedisk 7the rod is movable against the tension of the springto carry it outofany one of these notches in the following manner: The shaft "33 .(seeFig. 6) which has the speed change lever at itsouter end .isprovidedwith a cam 34 extending transversely from one sidethereof, theop-- posite faces 35, 36, being inclined; the'rod 30 is extendedbackwardly a suitable distancejand at its rear end is pivotallysupported at37 tov one end ofla bell crank 38 mounted in any suitablemanner at 39, the xoth'er; end of this bell crank being provided 60.with a roller 40 which engages either one of I the inclined faces 35,36, of the cam 34 or theend 32 of the rod 01s in engagement in one ofthe notches ,10 on the side'of h disk 7', such engagement being also)tainedwhen the speed change lever h been moved to bring the inclinedface 35 into-en ,3 gagement with the'roller 40;: when this leyerisri'nneutral position the horizontal end portion 41 of the cam 34 comesnae engagement with the roller 40, thereby turningi the bell crank aboutthe point of, supportv39 and moving-the rod 30 so that its-vertical end32' i "brought out of engagement with the notcln n the disk. In suchposition the .disk is freely rotatable and the engine may be cranked..In order to provide for noninterference with the engine case, the'rod.30 may have its intermediate portion oflt'setfa's' at 30 (see Fig. 1)and then, extended rear- Wardly as. at 30?". .yA similarwcam may bemounted on the shaft to which the brake 'lever is attached and anotherbell'crank and movable rod 50 may alsobeiprovidedpthe' 'o'uterend ofthis rod being'alsoi adaptedlfor engagement in any one of the notches,10 so that the disk 7- cannot be turned sayeiwhen 'the brakes are set;such a result is attained by providing that the horizontal QQrLportionof the cam on the brake lever shalftls in position to'move the rod 50out ofengagegs; ment with the notches 10 when the brakes are set, suchbeing easilybbtained" proper positioningofthe cam and theleyen -Anyportions of this rod 50 may be'oifset ajsf" at 50 (see Fig. 1) in orderto clear the crank case and other changes or variations 10o therein maybe'made in order to provide for easy and safe operation of the parts 7The operation of on device isas follows-i With the engine standlng stilland tlfi brakes i on, and the speed change lever occupying a normalposition, the disk 7 is freely rotatable on its support; by pushinginwardly 0n the crank handle 6 the co-acting parts of the clutchadjacent theengine shaft 14 are brought into engagement and the outerends of the arms 25, 26, engage in the notches 9 on the front of thedisk 7 so that by turning the handle the v'motor is crankecL- In thecranking operation the pawls 21, 22-, merely slip over each oftheperipheral teeth so is released, thespring27 forcing it outwardlyand'the parts of the clutch adjacent the end of the-engine shaft freeof eachother; such movement also frees the arms 25, 26, of engagement with the'teethon :the front of the disk 7-. If, however, itis atthe horizontalend portion 411 thereof ,detemptedto crank the motor when-the brakesendi g on what positionthe speed change} lever may occupy. 'When theparts are in p6 5 the position shown in Fig. 6 irgfull lines are off orwhen the speedchange lever is in any other position than neutrah the endportions of thee-reds 30 and 50 will'engage in 13o mediately becomedisengaged from the en-'' gine, thus preventing injury to the. operator.

In Figs. 7, 8, and 9, I have shown a modification of the crankingdevice,.the change of constructionbeing as follows. The crank handle 6in this instance is freely rotatable on the outer end of the engineshaft 14 while the helical-spring 27 keeps the disk 7 and the arms'25,:26, out of engagement, the crank handle being removable in thisinstance if so desired whereby the modified construction is especiallyadapted for use on marine engines.- The disk 7 is freely mounted on itssupport similar to the construction previously described and is retainedin position by the plate 11 in a Similar manner. Adjacent the front ofthis plate and held fast on the engine shaft is a plate or disk G havinga plurality of notches 61 around its periphery, these notchesregistering with certain of the notches 9 in the frontof the disk 7; therear side of each of the arms 26 is provided with diametrically opposite.teeth 62, each of the teeth being. adaptedv to'pas's through thenotches 61 in the plate or disk 60 and come into engagement in oppositenotches 9 on the disk ,7.

The movablefrods 30, 50, which are actuated by the brake lever andthespeed changeleverrespectivelyare maintained in this position, eitheror both-of them being adapted to be'seatedin the notches 10 on therearof;

the disk 7, as previeusly. described- When itis desired to crankthe-motor the handle -6"is placed on the end of the engine shaft 14 andpushed inwardly against. the pressure ofthe spring 27; -the teeth 62engage the notches 61 and 9, as previously mentioned, and if the rodsand are out'of. engagement with the notches 10 the engine may be cranked;;..if, however, the speed change lever andthebrake lever are in anyposition saveone,ithe disk cannot be-turned, and,

hence, the engine" cannot be cranked. The

disk 7 ispi-O'V1dfed with the peripheral teeth "and the co-actingpawlspreviously described "sothat reverse rotation of the handleispre--- vented in'ca'se of back-firing. I

From the above description taken in con- .nection with the accompanyingdrawings it will beseen that I have provided a cranking device-having;certain characteristics tending toward safety of the operatoras setforth in the beginning of this specification.

Of course the size of the various parts and their relative position withrespect to one another can be varied in order to adapt the device todifferent engines and differs ent uses without departing from the spiritand scope of the-inventionas defined in the appended claims. Having thusdescribed my invention, I claim as new, and desire to secure by LettersPatent I 1 1. In combination with a brake lever, and an engine shaft, adisk freely supported concentric therewith, notches on opposite faces ofthe disk, a, cranking device for engagement with the said shaft andhaving pors tions adapted for engagement with 'the notches on one sideof the disk, together with means adapted to be moved into and out ofengagement with the notches on the other side of the disk and operableby movement of the brake lever whereby the engine shaft may be turned bythe cranking device only when the said brake lever is in a; certainposition.

2. In combination with a brake lever, and an engine shaft, a disk havingnotches on opposite. faces thereof, a cranking device for fengagement'with the shaft and having means for engagement with the notches on oneface of the disk, other-means adapted for engagement with the notches onthe other face of the disk and in operativerelation with the brakelever, whereby thecranking device is prevented from turning the engineshaft save when thejbrake'lever is in one Position;

3. In combination-with an engine shaft,

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a freely rotatable member having notches on one face, alcranking deviceadapted for engagement with the; engine shaftand-provided with armshavin locking engagement with the said rotatab e member when thecrankingdevice .is in engagement with the shaft, and means adapted to bebrought into or out ofengagement in one of the said 'notches whereby"the said member is prevented from turning and the cranking device .isheld inoperative.

4.111 combination with a brake lever, a

speedchange lever, and an engineshaft, a rotatable member having notcheson opposite faces thereof, a cranking device adapted to engage the saidshaft and having" means thereon adapted to engage the notches onone-"sideiof thedisk-whereby the disk is turnedf'whn. the engine iscranked, together withmeans adap ed to engageany one of th'en'otches in;the otherside ofthe said member andoperable by movement of the brakelever or the speed change lever whereby, when eitherofthese said leversis in a certainposit ion the-cranking device isheld inoperative. j

, 5. In combination'with' anengine shaft, a rotatable member havingnotches on opposite faces thereof, a cranking device having meansthereon adapted to engage the engine; shaft and other means forengagement with the notches on\one side of the said member, there beingother means adapted to engage in anyone of the notches on the othersideof the said rotatable member whereby the cranking device may be heldinoperative '6. In combination with a brake lever, a

speed changelever, and engine shaft, a

movable member having notches on opposite sides thereof, a crankingdevice having means thereon adapted for engagement with the engineshaftand also provided'with -other means. adapted for engagement withthe notches in one side of the said member,

means thereon adapted to engage the en-- gine shaft and having othermeans adapted for engagement in any one of the notcheson one side ofthesaid member, and movable means adaptedto be brought into and out ofengagement in" any one of the notches in i the opposite side of-the saidmember whereby the cranking device n' ayrbe lieldinopr" erative. c 4

8; In combination with an engine shaft,

a cranking devicecomprisi ng a. handle, a

movable member adjacent the "said device,

'coacting parts carried by the cranking device andt 1e engine shaft,means carried by the cranki g device adapted forengagement wvith thesaid movable member when the crankingdevice engages the engine shaft,

7 and movable elements adapted to be brought;

into engagen'ieht with the said movable mem ber whereby, when either ofthe said clements engages thesaid member, the said cranking device isheld inoperative.

9. In combination with abrake lever, a speed change lever, and an engineshaft, a cranking device comprising a'handle, a disk having notches onopposite faces thereof, coacting parts carried by the cranking deviceand the engine shaft, oth enmeans carried r v by the cranking deviceadapted for engagedisk, movable rods, either one iiifi which is mentwith the notches in one side ofthe. said adapted-to be brought intoandout seenga'gement with" any one of the notchesin the opposite side ofthemember, the said rods 'being'p-rovided withv means whereby they 10.In combination with a brake lever,

a speed change lever, and an engine shaft, a cranking ldevice adapted tobe moved into engagement-with the shaft in order to turn 'thesame, amovable membenadjacent the device, means'carried' by the device for engagement with one face of the said member when'the cranking deviceisinoperative po 'sition, and means actuated bymovement of the brakeleverand speed change lever forv engagement with the other face of saidmemher, whereby the said device is-heldfinoper ativ'e save when the saidlevers are 111 certain positions.

11. In combination -with' the controlling mechanism of-an automobile andan engine shaft, a freely rotatable member, a cranking device adaptedfor engagement with the en gine shaft, and having interlockingengagement with one face of the said member when it is in engagementwith the shaft a member for engagement with the other face'of the saidmember to lock the said member" and the cranking deviceinoperativdahdmeans for operating the member from the controllingmechanism of the antomobile.

P12. In combination with an engine shaft,

a; freely rotatable member, a cranking device adapted for ergagement.with'tthe engine sl1aft=ai1d having lockingengagement with one face ofthe said member when it is in engagement with the-shaft, a sliding rodadapted to interlock with the said member to hold it and the crankingdevice inoperative, a speed charfgelever shaft, and means for operatingsaid rod from said shaft.

13. In combination with an engine shaft,

a freelyretatable member, a device adapted for engagement with theengine,

shaftfind having lockingengagement with the said member when it is inengagement with the shaft, a-sliding member for engagement with therevoluble member to lock'it and the oranking device inoperative, a speedchange lever shaft, a cam on the'shaft, and a bell crank havingonemember connected with the sliding member and itsother member extendingin the path of the-cam.

A In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification inthe presence'of two subscribing witnesses.

L g THOMAS MeoABE.

7 lVitnesses:

Gnomes JAoons, FRED J. HAHN.

Qoptes or thin patent may belobtained for flve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, 1) c."

